Quabbin birding and beyond: Some Least Bitterns yesterday during a walk with Devin and a new Hampshire County species for me today with a Stilt Sandpiper

Tuesday, July 22, 2025

Some Least Bitterns yesterday during a walk with Devin and a new Hampshire County species for me today with a Stilt Sandpiper

Least Bittern, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Jul 21, 2025

Least Bitterns, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Jul 21, 2025

Rose breasted Grosbeak, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Jul 21, 2025

Green Heron, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Jul 21, 2025

Great Blue Heron, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Jul 21, 2025

Eastern Coyote, Rail trail, Amherst, MA, Jul 21, 2025

Yesterday morning I caught up with former valley resident Devin who was in the area for some music work. We decided on meeting at the rail trail in Amherst where we would try to turn up a Least Bittern (which would be a county bird for Devin). I arrived a little early and walked by the marsh where a Least Bittern has been heard or seen very sporadically for a few months and had no luck. The species has gone largely silent by this point in the year so didn't have much faith in finding one. Once Devin arrived we started a walk along the trail and after watching a number of Green Herons flying around we approached the area where the Least Bittern has been and had one fly out of the reeds and then land in a reeds out of view. We looked for a bit and I saw just the head of the bird showing and got Devin on the bird. It then flew out to a more exposed perch and allowed for some great views and photos. As we watched the bittern a second one flew out to join the initial bird. The two of them flew around a bit for several minutes, occasionally landing in open. The best looks I have had of the species this year by far. Having two around certain points toward the potential for nesting once again. We had great looks at a number of other species of birds plus had a brown colored Eastern Coyote in a freshly cut field. It was nearly the exact same color as a White tailed Deer...a cool looking coyote.

Spotted Sandpiper, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Jul 22, 2025

Semipalmated Sandpiper, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Jul 22, 2025

Least Sandpipers, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Jul 22, 2025

Killdeer, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Jul 22, 2025

Spotted Sandpiper, East Meadows, Northampton, MA, Jul 22, 2025

On my way to work this morning I decided to see if I could track down any shorebirds or waders. A bit of north winds brought in some cool temps (low 50's) overnight and I thought some shorebirds would respond to the good early season migration conditions. I briefly checked for waders and shorebirds in Hadley before heading to the East Meadows. I came up to a small muddy area that had some great shorebird habitat and immediately started scanning the multiple birds present. The first scan through produced a number of species with the most unusual among them being a rare for the area Stilt Sandpiper. It was in the same general area as a few Solitary Sandpipers and was standing upright and seemed very nervous. I was able to get good views for about 30 seconds and then decided to try to get the scope out to get better views and some photos. As I was getting ready to get out of the car the bird took off and headed off to the south. I got the scope out and started scanning through the remaining birds and hoped the Stilt Sandpiper would return, which it never did. I was short of time and after around twenty minutes I had to head to work. Besides the Stilt Sandpiper I had five other species of shorebirds and got some photos of those. Stilt Sandpiper is a very rare species here and this was actually the first one I have ever had in the county! This addition brings my Hampshire County list to 308.